Worship and History

Offertory & Eucharist

A regular part of our worship is returning to God a portion of  what he has given us. This occurs in our service after the exchange of the peace. As a visitor, you have no obligation to participate in this offering. As we provide this opportunity for all, you should feel free to participate if you desire

Who is eligible  to celebrate the Eucharist? All who are baptized are welcome. Please join us in sharing the Eucharistic feast. You may kneel or stand at the altar rail. Hold out your hand, one on top of the other, to receive the bread. To receive the wine, guide the chalice to your lips by holding the chalice base. If you are unable to reach the altar, bread and wine will be brought to you if you tell an usher of your need. If you only desire the bread and not the wine, or just a blessing, cross your arms over your chest when at the altar rail.

General Information

St. John’s Parish Hall, Education classrooms, the nursery and restrooms are down the hall from the sanctuary. Ushers are available at both services to answer any questions you may have. Please join us for coffee in the Parish Hall after  Sunday services.

Information about current and upcoming activities are listed in the Worship Bulletin. The church newsletter, The Eagle News, is available to all who request a copy—please contact the church office.

Christian Education & Music

During the school year, classes are offered at 9:30 AM for ages preschool to adult. The music program includes Youth and Adult Choirs, an Instrument Ensemble and a Chime Choir. Please contact the church office or alert an usher if you or your family members would like to participate.

History of St. John’s

In November of 1904, a small group held a service in a room on West Main Street in Waynesboro. The Rev. Robert Carter Jett of Emmanual Church, Staunton officiated. The Rev. Jett later became the first Bishop of the newly created Diocese of Southwestern Virginia in 1919.

By 1905, it was determined that Waynesboro needed its own church. After petitioning the Staunton churches, it was confirmed that Waynesboro was in the dormant Boyden Parish established in 1837. Thus St. John’s inherited the Parish history and its name. The first church building was built in 1907 facing Wayne Avenue.

Throughout the years since its inception, St. John’s has expanded its original building, added a Primary School, established Memorial and decorative gardens, and a columbarium. The church has a strong relationship with Stuart Hall, the Episcopal preparatory School in Staunton, Virginia.

As the Waynesboro community grows and changes, St. John’s continues to meet the challenges of the community. We welcome you to our church family and hope you find your church home with us.

If it has not been offered, please ask for our  Parish Activities and Traditions brochure for specific information about annual events. Also available is the History of St. John’s Episcopal Churchby Stetson Conn, a thorough history of the church from its beginnings to the present. Visitor cards are located in the pew racks; feel free to complete a card and place it in the offertory plate. You will be contacted.

The Episcopal Church

We at St. John’s are among 3,000,000 Episcopalians presently worshipping in the United States. We are part of the worldwide Anglican Communion, numbering 60,000,000 throughout the world. A summary of our beliefs is found on page 845 in the Book of Common Prayer.

Worship Service

We hope this site will help you as you seek God’s guidance in finding a church home. A church is a living entity—a part of the Body of Christ. We hope that you will join us as part of that body.

The custom at St. John’s is to use our Worship Bulletin, The Book of Common Prayer and the Hymnal. The red book in the pew rack is the Book of Common Prayer and the Hymnal is the blue book. The Hymnal contains most of the music we use in our worship. The Worship Bulletin indicates page numbers used in the Book of Common Prayer and the Hymnal. Hymn numbers beginning with S are found in the front of the Hymnal.

Participation

During the service, you will see people standing, sitting and kneeling. Please choose what is comfortable for you. There are instructions in the Book of Common Prayer about appropriate posture at different times during the service.

Nursery

Children are welcomed in the sanctuary. We  offer a nursery for babies and toddlers during the second Sunday service (10 AM in summer & 10:30 AM during the school year). It is customary for all children to come into church to celebrate the Eucharist. Update: the nursery is now staffed, and is also open during Sunday School, so that parents can join us, too.

Sunday Services: 8 AM and 10:30 AM

Sunday School: 9:30 AM

Summer Services: 8 AM and 10 AM

Office Hours:

8:15 AM—3 PM, weekdays, School year

8:00 AM—1:00 PM weekdays, Summer